The Special One last month dubbed Pulis as the leading contender for the manager of the year award for lifting Crystal Palace off the foot of the table.

And the respect between the pair is mutual.

Pulis said: "Jose is one of the elite managers in the world.

"I look at his record and he's nmanaged the great teams. The great teams need to win and he does that for them.

"He doesn't just win on home soil, he wins away too. Of all the teams in the Champions League this year I always fancied Chelsea to go the furthtest because of his experience, the way he prepares teams ans sets them out.

"They are organised and structured and when the coach is like that and you've got top, top players you've got a chance."